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中文On February 5, Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Changan Automobile”) jointly held the “Changan Automobile Tianshu Intelligent New Safety Achievements Release and Sodium Battery Strategy Global Launch Event” with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (hereinafter referred to as “CATL”) in Yakeshi. Changan Automobile officially unveiled its global sodium battery strategy, and the world’s first sodium battery-powered mass-produced passenger vehicle made its debut. In the future, multiple brands under Changan Automobile, including Avatr, Deepal, Qiyuan, and Gravity, will be equipped with CATL’s sodium-based batteries.
Currently, the world’s first sodium battery-powered mass-produced passenger vehicle has completed winter calibration in Yakeshi, with its range, low-temperature performance, safety, and discharge performance meeting usage requirements.
As a new type of battery, sodium batteries serve as an important complement to lithium batteries. Zhang Xiaorong, President of DeepTech Research Institute, told Securities Daily: “The launch of the first sodium battery-powered mass-produced vehicle marks a breakthrough for electric vehicles in overcoming high-cold climate limitations. The new energy industry is collaborating to promote technological diversification, which is of great significance for enhancing the all-weather adaptability of new energy vehicles.”
It was learned from the launch event that the Changan Automobile models equipped with CATL’s sodium-based batteries exhibited a discharge power nearly three times higher than that of conventional lithium iron phosphate models with the same battery capacity under -30°C conditions. At -40°C, the capacity retention rate exceeded 90%, and even at the extreme temperature of -50°C, stable discharge was maintained.
Test data show that CATL’s sodium batteries, combined with its third-generation CTP system integration technology, can achieve a pure electric range of over 400 km, with the highest energy density of the battery cells reaching 175 Wh/kg, placing it at the leading level in the industry. CATL believes that with the rapid development of the sodium battery industry chain, the pure electric range could be upgraded to 500 km or even 600 km, and the range for extended-range hybrid vehicles could exceed 300 km or even 400 km, covering over 50% of the range requirements in the new energy vehicle market.
It is worth mentioning that CATL initiated research and development of sodium-ion battery technology as early as 2016, with cumulative investments nearing 10 billion yuan by 2025. Its sodium-ion batteries also demonstrate excellent safety performance, passing extreme safety tests such as multi-surface crushing, electric drill penetration, and complete sawing while fully charged.
As a leading automaker fully embracing sodium batteries, Changan Automobile boasts over 40 years of profound automotive manufacturing experience. In 2025, Changan Automobile’s new energy vehicle sales exceeded 1.1 million units. With its multi-brand portfolio ranging from premium to mass-market brands and from passenger to commercial vehicles, Changan Automobile is expected to provide a million-unit market foundation for the large-scale application of sodium batteries in the future.
A representative of Changan Automobile told Securities Daily: “With the deepening of the strategic cooperation between the two companies, we will be the first to equip CATL’s sodium batteries in multiple new models across our brands, aiming to become the first leading automaker to fully adopt sodium batteries. This initiative seeks to share the benefits of the new energy era with users through technological democratization.”
The current wave of electrification in the new energy industry is dominated by lithium batteries. However, with breakthroughs in sodium battery technology, industry insiders believe that sodium batteries, leveraging their unique resource advantages and rapid technological advancements, will form a “lithium-sodium complementary” ecosystem alongside lithium batteries. Together, they will build a diversified energy supply structure, opening up new pathways for the sustainable development of the new energy industry.
It is reported that in 2026, CATL will apply sodium batteries on a large scale in areas such as battery swapping, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and energy storage, fostering a new development trend of “lithium-sodium synergy.”
According to data from ICC Xinluo, China’s sodium-ion battery production reached 3.45 GWh in 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 96%. In 2025, China’s total sodium battery cathode output amounted to 11,000 tons, a 101% increase year-on-year. It is expected that the operational capacity for sodium battery cathodes will exceed 120,000 tons in 2026. This trend will support the explosive growth of downstream sodium battery applications, with capacity utilization rates expected to rise significantly.
Zhang Xiaorong stated that the coordinated development of lithium and sodium batteries is a more practical path aligned with the development of the new energy industry. “Lithium batteries focus on high-end, long-range applications, while sodium batteries target medium-to-short-range travel and extreme environments. Their complementarity can enhance the resilience of the industry chain, reduce resource risks, and accelerate the adoption of battery swapping and electrification in lower-tier markets.”
“Sodium reserves worldwide far exceed those of lithium, which means sodium batteries will be less costly than lithium batteries,” said Zhang Xiang, Secretary-General of the International Association of Intelligent Transportation Technology. “In addition to their cost advantage, sodium batteries also exhibit excellent low-temperature performance and a broad applicable temperature range. However, whether sodium batteries can achieve large-scale application in the future remains to be tested over time.”
